hawkins



i JNtra STATES PATENT FFIC.

WILLIAM A. HAWKINS AND CHARLIE S. HAWKINS, OF WAXAHACHIE, TEX.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 272,435, dated'February20, 1583.

' Application led June Q8, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM A. HAWKINS and CHARLIE S. HAwKINs, citizensof the United States of America, residing at Waxahachie, in the coun tyof Ellis and State of Texas, have invented certain new and usefulIinprovements in Gar-Couplings; `and we do declare the following to be alull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled iu the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to theletters and figures ot' reference marked thereon, which form apart ofthis specitication.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements incar-couplings; audit consists more particularly in the construction andarrangement ot' parts, as will be hereinafter m'ore fully described andclaimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the invention, Figure 1 is aperspective view oi' a portion of a car with our devices at,

tached to one end thereof; and Fig. 2 is a side elevation of thecouplings, partly in section.

Like letters indicate like parts.

The letter A represents a car-body, to t-hel lower side of one end ofwhich a bumper, B, is

attached in the usual manner. This bumper B is recessed, as shown inFig. 2, and iu this recess the coupling-hook C is pivoted. Anl ear, c,is formed on the upper side of the coupling-hook C, nea-r its front end,through which the lower end of a conneetin g-1od,D,is passed. The upperend of the connecting-rod D is attachedto the forward end ot' a lever,E. This lever E is pivoted to a plate, F, provided with lugs orbearingsf, which is suitably secured to the top of the car. The rear endor handle of the lever Eis capable of being placed in notches formed ina locking-plate, G, attached to the top of the car A, as shown. Thelower forward end of the bumper B is provided with a lip, b, upon whichthe forward end ofa pivoted stirrup, H, rests when not in use. One sideof the stirrup H is prolonged backward, and through its end the lowerend of a conmeeting-rod, I, is passed. The upper end of this rod I isattached to the forward end of a lever, J, which is pivoted upon the topof the carin the same manner as the lever E.' The side of thelocking-plate Gr adjacent to the pivoted lever J may also be providedwith notches for the reception of the handle of said lever. Theconnecting-rods D I are respectively provided with aV projection, d i,through which the inner ends of levers K L are passed. These levers K Lare pivoted to the end of the car at each side and at such distanceabove the bumper B as to be within easy reach of the operator whenstanding upon the ground.

The longitudinal movement of the couplinglink M, which may be ofanysuitable construction, is limited in the bumperB by a partition, e,formed in said bumper. This partition eis preferably concaved or roundedto correspond with the end of the coupling-link. The link' M may beguided into its proper position in the bumper of an approaching car byraising` Y.

the link M,- may be kept in any desired position by forcing the handleof 4said lever into the desired notch. lt will be seen that by thisarrangement cars of unequal height may be as readily coupled as thosethat are equal in height.

The uncoupling of the cars may be effected by operating either of thelevers E K so as to raise the hook G from its engagement with the linkM. By forcing the handle ot' the lever E into one-of the notches in thelocking-plate G thevhook C may be rmly secured in either a r'aised orlowered position.

By our construction and arrangement of de vices it will be observed thatthe coupling and uucoupling of the cars and the guiding' of the link toits proper position may be effected from either the top or side-of thecar with equal facility and without any accompaniment of danger to theoperator.

Instead of the hook C, a coupling-pin or bolt of any desiredconstruction may be used.

Our device is especially adapted to freight and other like cars; but itmay be attached to any description of car with but little alteration.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, isv In a car-coupling, the combination of there- ICO cessed and slotted bumper B, having lip b and In testimonywhereof we affix our signatures transverse inner wall, e, the hook C,pivoted in presence of two Witnesses. therein, strrup H, suspendedbeneath the bumper, vertical rods or eonnectionsD I, levers HH' 5 E J,pivoted in suitable bearings on the car- L roof, locking-plate G,and thelevers K L, all Witnesses: constructed und arranged as and for the pur-G. C. GRACE, pose specified. F. P. POWELL.

